Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-02-11
THE FARMERS CONVENTION

THE FARMERS CONVENTION.
| Tuesday, the 1st inst, the State Far
mers' convention commenced its work
| the forenoon and afternoon being princi,
| pally devoted to the reading of reports
revision of premium lists, etc. the meet
ing being in the agricultural rooms in the
capitol.
In the evening there was a grand gath.
ering in the assembly chamber.
Ex-president of the State Agricultural
society, Hon. A. A. Arnold, of Galesville
called the convention to order. He was
happy to see so many familiar faces re.
fore him. He hoped the convention would
be crowned with success. He then pre-
sented his successor, Hon. Caspar NJ
Sanger, of Milwaukee.
Gov. Rusk occupied a seat byt he side
of President Sanger.
The new president said he was not in
the habit OF making speeches, and pos
sessing no oratorisal powers, he wished
to be excused from making the so called
"annual address" He would leave all de-
tailed staten entsto those better prepared
to handle them.
Prof. j. j. Blaisdell, of Beloit college
was called upon by the president. The
professor came forward and delivered an
address, the subject of which was "The
Mental Equipment of the Citizen Far
mer." The address was listened to with
marked attention.
The next speaker was G.. D. Holden, of
| jackson county, whose address was very
lengthy, and was on the subject of taxa
tlon. He made out terrible state of
affairs in Wisconsin. She is the worst
tov Irr 4, nv
imposed on the farmer is frightful. He
strongly condemned that system of taxa
tion which exempted railroads, telegraph
and other great and powerful corpora
tions from taxation for school purposes.
Fully one half of the wealth of the state
| Is exempt from taxes for educational
purposes.
WEDNESDAY.
The State Farmers convention was
| called to order in the state agricultural
rooms in the capitol, at O'Clock Wednes
day morning. Both rooms were filled to
their utmost capacity. 1t was plainly
| noticeable that very many of the leading
farmers-especially stock raisers-of the
state were present. Gov. Rusk was on
hand, as a farmer, and took interest in
the various subjects presented, and dis
cussion thereon.
The first subject presented was that of
"Fine Wool Sheep, and their place in our
| agriculture" by Judge c. r. Gibbs, OF
Whitewater-the paper being read by an.
other party, the judge not being able to
be present. 1t was discussed at length
| those taking a most active part being
Lewis Clark, of Beloit; A. A. Arnold
of Galeville; j. NJ. True, of Baraboo
| and Matt. Anderson, of Pine Bluff
AS many differet views were expressed as
there were speakers on the subjec
Miscellaneous crossing was generally
| strongly condemued. Too little atten-
tion is apt to be paid by sheep breeders
to the question of breeding and crossing
Attention having been paid to other
| questions, in brief, the convention took
recess until 2:30 p. N.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
| Dehorning cattle was the absorbing
! topic, by H. II. Haaff, of Atkinson, Ill
Mr.. Haaff is the originator of the dehorn-
ing process, and readers of newspapers
will remember that they have seen great
| deal that has been written on this, pro
and con.
| The convention held forth in the as
| sembly chamber, and not less than five
hundred persons were present, including
! fifty or sixty ladies. Upon taking the
| speakers place, Mr.. Haaf displayed lot
of horns, skulls, etc. Thinking the
chamber was little too much heated for
healthy farmer, he pulled off his coat
and started in. He told what prompted
him to dehorn his cattle. First for safe
| ty and second for the saving of feed
| These are the points in substance. He
| claimed that dehorning saved at least
! one e-fourth feed. He claimed that if his
| process was followed scarcely any, If any,
| pain would be realized by the creatures
dehorned. The horns were shown, and
the quick healing process by granulation
was explained. If the operation was not
performed properly the horn may CON
tinue to grow. Mr.. Haaff denied most
emphatically that there was pith in the
| horn, as claimed by persons who spoke
| and wrote of dehorning as cruelty. He
| dissected a horn, as il were.
| to show its formation. He
| denied that the dehorning process was
| like the cutting off or putting off of a
| finger nail. 1t required great deal of
unnecessary labor on the part of a
creature to supply blood and pump it in
to the horns, In extremely cold countries
where feed is scarce cattle had been
known to die on account of the exertion
| required TO keep up blood supply for
| the horns. He had in his possession let
| ters from cattle raisers in Texas and
Montana, and all favored dehorping after
| becoming acquainted with the process.
/ The inhuman wire fences of western
| states and trritories were much more
cr1el than the dehorning process. In
| Montana, cattle raisers cut the tip of the
/ horn and find that it fords relief 10
cattle. When cattle do not eat and
| thrive, in that territory the tip cutting
| process is followed TO advantage. In
day or two, after this opera
alton the cattle would show good
/ appetite, and feed well. The
| animal begins to take on flesh Just az
/ soon as the horns are removed. The man
| who tsses off horn is Humanitarian
horIs are nuisance, anyway.
Ab, says the s'cruelty to animal man, y
/ but God put the horns there, So did He
! replied the speaker. put the wart on the
end of your nose, and ii certainly is not
an ornament. Every observing stock
raiser knows that few bosses control
I the feeding place and the watering place
at the expense of the owner or feeder
/ Dehorn ferocious bull, and by and By
the calves viii be driving the old feliov
around. The dehorning process, he did
not think would be felt in the leas. by
animals eight or ten years of age, when
| the membrein had become deadened.
1t is said that the horses stomach has
q capacity of only sixteen quarts, while
that of the OK has q capacity of 25o
| quarts, but In the ;nfestines this is yeyers-
ed somewhat, the horse having q capacity
| of $50 quarts and the OK 100. The horse
| therefore, feeds often and eats slowly,
While the OK stores up q large amount Of
| food TO be masticsted at leisure.